USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 109
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1867, he removed to Randolph, and has since led a more retired life ; here he lost his faithful and loving companion, with whom he lived nearly fifty years ; she died May 12, 1877 ; they had seven children- Margaret (deceased), Mary J., Ellen (now Mrs. John Thomas, of Berlin, Wis.), William J. (deceased), Henry (now of Cairo, Ill.), Timothy (now of Boulder, Colo.), Hattie (now Mrs. Eugene), A. Marsh, of Lime Spring, Iowa. Himself and daughter are members of the Baptist Church ; he is one of the original members ; he has also been a member of the County Board for five years.
ABIEL STARK, deceased. Randolph has its many prominent men, but none perhaps took a more active part or greater interest in the early affairs of the village, than the subject of this sketch. He was the son of Nathan and Rebecca Stark; born (Dec. 20, 1806) in Lynn, New London Co., Conn .; spent his early life on his father's farm in his native county. April 3, 1831, he married Miss Jane A., daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Ely, nee Smith-a grand-daughter of the noted Dr. William Ely, of Hanover, N. J .; in the spring of 1853, they left their home in New London Co., Conn., and immigrated to Dodge Co., Wis .; reaching the town of Westford April 19, of that year, he purchased a farm of 160 acres, eighty of which lies in the west half of the west half of Sec. 6, Westford, including much of the land where the village of Randolph now stands ; the other eighty acres lie in Sec. 36, Randolph, and in Cortland, Columbia Co .; the forty in Sec. 36 includes the southwest portion of the village ; this farm was his home, and here he could be found at most any time, either devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits or look- ing after the interests of the little village. He died Aug. 26, 1869, leaving a widow by whom he had eleven children-William H., John G., Edward C., all of Randolph ; Laura L., deceased ; Isaac, deceased ; James A., of Piute Co., Utah; Maria A., of New York City ; Mary J., Anna R .; Mrs. Morris Blodgett, of Cortland, Columbia Co., Wis., and Charles A., of Randolph. The family is connected with the Baptist Church.
EDWARD C. STARK, teacher, Randolph; is a son of Abiel and Jane A. Stark, early settlers in the town of Westford, a sketch of whom is given in this work; Edward C. was born in the town of Lime, Conn., May 31, 1838; in 1851, with his father's family he came to Westford, Dodge Co., which has been his home much of the time since; he received the early part of his education in the dis. trict schools of Connecticut and Dodge Co., attending, perhaps, the first district school in the town of Westford ; during the winter of 1857-58, and for two or three years following, he attended the Wayland University at Beaver Dam, Wis., but on account of ill health, he was forced to give up his studies before completing the course; in 1861, he went to Iowa, and spent a year in recuperating and looking after some land his father had purchased in that State; returning home, somewhat improved in health, he at once began teaching, and has since followed that profession, and to-day stands among the first and most success- ful teachers of Dodge and Columbia Cos .; had he been more of a politician, Mr. Stark to-day would be County Superintendent of Public Schools of Columbia Co .; he was, beyond doubt, the choice of the people, but modesty kept him from putting himself forward as a candidate-just the kind of a man who should fill that office. Dec. 3, 1869, he married Miss Lona B., daughter of John and Minerva Bolls, early immigrants t, Cortland, Columbia Co., Wis .; they have one son, Frederick B. Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
CHARLES A. STARK, attorney at law ; is a native of Westford, Dodge Co., and son of Abiel and Jane A. Stark ; born Dec. 25, 1854; he was educated in the public school of Randolph, after which he entered upon the study of law with J. J. Dick, of Beaver Dam ; he then attended law school at Madison, Wis., one year and was there admitted to the bar in the spring of 1878; he at once began the practice of his profession in his native village, where he is now the leading attorney ; he is a member of the I. O. O. F.
RUSSELL WELCH, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Beaver Dam; is a native of Cohocton, Steuben Co., N. Y .; born in 1815 ; is son of Freeborn and Massa Welch ; in 1842. he came to Walworth Co., Wis., and made that his home for about two years; in 1844, he removed to the town of Westford, Dodge Co .; entered 120 acres of land in Sec. 25, where he has since lived and now has about 300 acres of land in the town. In 1836, he married Miss Olda, daughter of John and Margaret Cronk, of Ontario Co., N. Y .; they had eleven children, three of whom, with his wife, are deceased-Sarah, the late Mrs. James Nash, deceased ; Margaret (Mrs. Albert Horton ), of Pierce Co., Wis. ; Charlotte ( Mrs. Floyd Horton), of Clark Co., Wis .; Adaline, deceased ; Peter, of Westford ; Amanda (Mrs. Lorenzo Welch, of Westford) ; Libbie, of Da- kota ; Emiline (Mrs. Charles Wallace); John Lorenzo; Aurilda, deceased. Mr. Welch is now one of the oldest settlers in Westford.
CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Fox Lake ; is a son of James A. and. Mary Williams, emigrants from Connecticut to Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1842, where Charles H. was. born, Aug. 13, 1844 ; he received his early education in the district schools, after which he continued the.
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higher studies at Waupun and in Wayland University of Beaver Dam and lastly at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, where he graduated in 1866; he followed teaching for a few years, but in 1868 he bought a farm of 320 acres in Sec. 4, town of Westford, where he has since followed farming; in 1870, he was elected Chairman of the Town Board and was three times re-elected to that office; in 1876, he was elected a member of the Wisconsin Senate from the Thirteenth District. In 1869, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. F. A. and Elizabeth Wallace, of Fox Lake ; they have five children-Frederick W., Susan, Robert, Charles, Hattie. Politically, Mr. Williams is a stanch Democrat ; Mrs. Williams is a member of the Episcopal Church.
JOHN E. WILLIAMS, farmer, Secs. 4, 5, 8 and 9; P. O. Fox Lake ; is the second son of John H. and Catharine Williams; born in the town of Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1850 ; when he was 17 years old, he, with his parents, removed to a farm of 305 acres in Secs. 4, 5, 8 and 9, town of West- ford, which has been his home most of the time since. In February, 1875, he married Miss Monica J., daughter of John and Mary Cruden, of Westford ; they have two children-Joseph and George. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Catholic Church of Fox Lake. Mr. Williams was elected Town Treasurer in 1879.
ROBERT T. WILLIAMS, M. D., Randolph ; the subject of this sketch is a descendant of a line of eminent physicians of England and Wales ; he is a son of William R. and Catharine Williams; born in Holyhead, Angleshire, North Wales, Sept. 10, 1841 ; his father was a banker of Angleshire till 1842, when he came to America, leaving his son Robert with his mother in Wales, and took the position of Professor of Mathematics in the University of Brooklyn, N. Y., for two years, after which, he came to Waukesha, Wis., where he held several responsible positions. Robert T. received his literary educa- tion in the schools of his native town; after which (in 1859), he entered upon the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Thomas, an eminent physician and surgeon of Liverpool ; here he continued his studies for some time and then attende 1 lectures and clinics at the University of Dublin ; in 1867, he came to America, and, in 1868, he entered the Northwestern University of Chicago, where he completed his studies, and received his diploma in March, 1871; he at once began the practice of medicine with Dr. J. L. Page, of Racine, Wis., with whom he continued for four years; then, on account of his children's health, removed to Arena, Iowa Co., Wis., and continued his profession for three years; in the fall of 1878, he removed to the village of Randolph, Dodge Co., where he now continues his profession. At Utica, Wis., Dec. 28, 1871, he married Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Elizabeth Edwards, of that place ; they have had four children-Catharine E., Elizabeth E., Evadna E., William R. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Welsh Presbyterian Church.
ROGER WILLIAMS, proprietor of wagon-shop, Randolph ; is a native of South Wales ; is a son of Roger and Charlotte Williams ; born in 1829 ; he emigrated to America with his parents in 1838, and settled in Alleghany Co., Md., where he followed farming; in 1850, with his parents, came to Columbia Co., Wis., and settled on a farm in the town of Randolph, and made that his home till 1869, when he removed to the village of Randolph and worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade till 1871 ; he then became proprietor of a wagon-shop, where he now continues that business. In 1852, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Ellis Thomas, of Manchester, Green Lake Co., Wis .; they had two children -Mary and John, both of whom, with their mother, are deceased. In 1858, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Leonard Weed, of Manchester, Green Lake Co., Wis .; children are David, now of Milwaukee ; Annie, deceased; Charlotte, Edgar, Willis. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Methodist Church. He has been Justice of the Peace in West Ward of the village for two terms and is now a member of the Village Board.
CHARLES M. WILLIS, M. D., Randolph ; is the son of Anthony and Sabrina Willis ; born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Dec. 7, 1849. His father was a cabinet-maker of Massena, St. Law- rence Co., whence he removed to Green Lake Co. and settled on a farm near Ripon, Wis., in the fall of 1851. Charles received his early education in the district school of Green Lake Co., after which he attended Ripon College for about four years, teaching part of the time during the winters, so as to have money enough to meet his expenses at college through the summer term; in 1874, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Everhard, of Ripon, and attended lectures at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, where he graduated with the Class of 1877 ; he at once began the practice of medicine at Randolph, Dodge Co., where he now has an extensive practice in this and Columbia Cos .; as a citizen, he is highly respected, and as a physician, he enjoys the confidence of all who know him. In July, 1876, he married Miss Anna L. Harrison, of Ringwood, McHenry Co., Ill .; they have one son-Roy. Mrs. W. is a member of the Con- gregational Church.
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FOX LAKE TOWNSHIP.
ARIE BANTA, attorney at law, Fox Lake; born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1818; his father was Peter Banta, who was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., in 1774; he was a respected citizen and a farmer in good circumstances ; he died in 1852, at the age of 79. His father was Arie Banta, from Bergen Co., N. J., of old Holland stock ; settled in New York and vicinity at an early date ; he had four sons in the Revolutionary war ; he was one of the first settlers in Saratoga Co .; was a blacksmith by trade ; he died in 1811. The present Arie Banta entered Union College in 1843 and graduated in 1846, and then studied law with Judge John K. Porter, in Waterford, N. Y .; practiced there till 1851; then came to Fox Lake, and has been engaged in the practice of law here ever since; was elected Town Clerk in 1855, and has held that position ever since, with the exception of one term ; has been Justice of the Peace, and was one of the leading spirits that organized and built up the Republican party in this part of the county ; is a prominent Mason, and was Master of the Lodge here seven years.
JOHN L. BROWER, retired, Fox Lake; born in New York City May 20, 1824; son of Jacob P. Brower, who was from Rockland Co., N. Y .; his father, Paul, was also born in Rockland Co., and was of the Holland stock that settled in and around New York City, and whose descendants to-day claim the Trinity Church estate; Paul had a brother who was killed by the Tories during the Revolu- tionary war; Paul was in the war of 1812. Jacob P. Brower and his family came West, and landed in Mil- waukee, May, 1837, a place of about 1,200 inhabitants then; in June, 1837, went to Sheboygan, and kept the Sheboygan House about ten months, and in the spring of 1838 moved to the north side of Fox Lake and made a claim ; land was not in market then; fall following, located where the village of Fox Lake now stands; this was in December, 1838, located it in November, 1848; was the first white man to settle in this county ; built a log house and went to farming; settled on 240 acres; nearest neighbors were at Fort Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Watertown ; in 1840, Mr. Brower purchased land where the city of Beaver Dam now stands; moved then, and in the fall of 1841, built a log house near where the present bank now stands, on Front street; in 1844, commenced building a saw-mill at Fox Lake, and in the fall of 1845, his son, J. L. Brower, took charge of it, and engaged with his brother, George W., in business ; in 1851, built a flouring mill at Fox Lake, and carried on a successful busi- ness till February, 1878, when it burned down. Mr. J. L. Brower married Maria Wiggens, May, 1846 ; she was from Genesee Co., N. Y .; had nine children-Lavenia, born June 16, 1847, and died July 18, 1847; Ophelia, born April 23, 1849, is living and at home; Amelia, born April 3, 1851, and living at home ; Frankie P., born March 23, 1853, died May 18, 1853; Lewis K., born May 24, 1854, living at Fox Lake; Cetta, born Oct. 17, 1858, and died Nov. 6, 1861 ; Stephen A. D., born June 3, 1861, and died Aug. 19, 1861; Edgar P., born Sept. 13, 1862, living at Fox Lake; Jacob P., born July 26, 1865, died Jan. 27, 1866 ; wife died Nov. 2, 1867. He married again, Feb. 13, 1870, Mary E. Stadter ; had one child-Flora L., born Dec. 15, 1870. His father, Jacob P., married, Sept. 16, 1820, Martha Mackie; had eight children ; he died Nov. 28, 1846, and wife died April 15, 1875; Mr. Brower is undoubtedly the oldest settler in this part of the county, and has witnessed all the changes from the time this county was a wilderness and inhabited only by Indians, to the present day, when the land teems with the fruits of honest husbandry, and has become one of the richest sections of the State. Mr. Brower own's a large island beautifully situated in Fox Lake, which is quite a resort.
HENRY CLAUSON, elevator grain merchant; born in Denmark Nov. 21, 1845 ; son of J. P. Clauson ; Henry started out for a sailor's life when 14 years old, and has been all over the world; was mate of the brig Johanna; touched at Leith, Zealand ; Havre, France ; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, then to New York City and Philadelphia, and to Rio Janeiro, South America, to Montevideo, Ba- tavia, Sumatra, and San Francisco, Cal., in 1865 ; was there two years, then went to Melbourne, Australia, to Sidney and New Castle, then back to San Francisco; was there almost eighteen months, and went to Boston by the way of Cape Horn ; then went to Milwaukee and was on the lakes six years; was ship- wrecked in Traverse Bay; in 1873, quit seafaring life, and commenced dealing in wheat, and now has one of the finest and most complete elevators in the county, and is doing a very successful business. Married, December, 1872, Lena Chlastenson ; have had three children-Fred, born, October, 1872, died in infancy ; Fred (2) born October, 1875, Leon, born October; 1877. Mr. Clauson is one of the Trustees of the village. His experience as a sailor and an officer on the ocean would of themselves make an interesting volume.
JOHN G. CAWLEY, wagon manufacturer, Fox Lake, Dodge Co .; born in Canada Nov. 29, 1842, son of Peter Cawley, of Scotch descent ; he is living at Green Lake Co., Wis., at about the age of
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70 ; is a well-to-do farmer. John, at the age of 21, went to farming in Columbia Co., Wis .; afterward went to Marquette; went to steamboating, ran from Portage to Neena on the steamer Fox; came back and worked for Aleck Patrick four years in a blacksmith and carriage shop ; then went to Portage and worked for Geo. C. Jackson about eleven months ; then went to Randolph Center and worked for John Chamber- lain four years, and came to Fox Lake in April, 1876, and bought out W. K. Parker, and through his industry and good workmanship now carries on an extensive and constantly increasing business, making a grade of wagons noted for their durability and that are in general demand, also repairs farm machinery in satisfactory and workmanlike manner. He married, in January, 1862, Keziah Welcher, who came from Michigan ; have had two children-Ida, born June 9, 1863, and Herby, born July 9, 1874. Wmn. E., his brother, is engaged in the business with him, the firm name being Cawley & Bro.
S. T. COMAN, capitalist ; born in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., Feb. 20, 1816, son of Rich- ard Coman, who was born in Cheshire in the same county ; his father, Daniel, was from Providence, R. I., and of English descent ; he was in the battle of Bennington, under Gen. Stark; he lived to be 82 years old, and died in Cheshire ; Richard was born July 19, 1778, in the same town, and died Feb. 20, 1841. He was a farmer, and an old Jackson Democrat ; his father, Daniel, was a Deacon, and one of the pillars of the Baptist Church, the same church that Elder John Leland was a member of; Leland was the one who sent Thomas Jefferson a sample of the products of the county, in the shape of an immense cheese, weighing about 1,000 pounds; it was shaped in a cider press. Mr. S. T. Coman commenced farming in 1840 ; had 110 acres, and afterward 300 acres; came to Fox Lake in 1857, then to Saratoga Springs for a short time, and in 1858, built a fine residence on Fox Lake, located there, and has been there ever since; has been engaged as a capitalist loaning money ; in 1878, built one of the finest planing-mills in the State, complete in all its appointments. Married Fidelia Tyrrell, who was a native of Massachusetts ; she died about 1859, was buried in Fox Lake ; is living with his second wife, who was Mrs. B. Tillotson, from Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., and the daughter of John Barnard, an old settler and respected citizen of that county. Mr. Coman has been Town Clerk and Supervisor several years, and President of of the Village Board ; has been Trustee of the bank at Fox Lake for ten years or more.
REV. JOHN R. DANIEL, Pastor of the Welsh Calvinistic Church; born in North Wales, Carnarvonshire, Nov. 24, 1826, son of John Daniel ; the family came to New York in July, 1845, and the same year came to Fox Lake, Wis., and settled on eighty acres; was one of the earliest settlers ; there were but five or six families in this neighborhood before him, among whom were Mr. Evans, Cather- ine Faulks, Ebenezer E. Jones, M. Burgitt and a Mr. Dart; Mr. Daniel now has a fine farm of 145 acres that he has got through his industry and frugality; his father, John Daniel, was Deacon of the Welsh Church for many years, and was one of the founders of the Lake Emely Church, and one of the most prominent men of the settlement; was a Deacon in the church in Wales for about twenty years. He mar- ried Jane Roberts and had two children-John and Margaret. Margaret married Daniel R. Jones, a well- to-do farmer, and a member of the Lake Emely Church. Their father died July 4, 1859. His son, Rev. John Daniel, was married, Oct. 17, 1860, to Ellen Owens, daughter of William Owens, a prominent farmer in Columbus ; he had four children-John, born Sept. 29, 1861, and is at home; William, born June 8, 1863, is living at home ; Catherine, horn Sept. 24, 1866 ; Josiah, born Nov. 7, 1877. Mr. Daniel was ordained in Spring Vale in June, 1856 ; commenced to preach in 1848 or 1849; preached in a private house first, then in a schoolhouse, and now has a fine church. Mr. Daniel was a strong Anti-Slavery man, and was of good service to the Union cause.
JOHN W. DAVIS, President of the First National Bank of Fox Lake. Mr. Davis is of Welsh descent, and came to Utica, N. Y., in 1840, and then to New York Mills, and was engaged with Benjamin S. Wolcott, of New York Mills fame, attended the Oneida Institute and studied law, and, in 1848, came to Fox Lake, and practiced law for several years ; went into partnership with A. C. Ketchem, and were together about a year when he purchased his library, and carried on the business on his own account ; in this business he handled collections largely and became the custodian of much property, and gradually worked into the banking business, and opened the first exchange office in Fox Lake; then started a bank under the State law, known as the Bank of Fox Lake, and afterward organized under the National Act ; he has been President of the bank since its organization, with the exception of a short time, when William E. Smith, the present Governor, was the President; the bank has never closed its doors on account of financial troubles, although many in that vicinity have not been so fortunate. Mr. Davis served four years as County Commissioner, and has been President of the village; was elected in 1853 to the Legislature, and again, the following term, was a member of the Committee on Claims, and also of the Judiciary Com- mittee; was also Democratic candidate for State Treasurer, but was defeated by the present Governor, William E. Smith ; in 1873, he was elected to the Legislature again, and met some members that were
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there twenty years before, among whom were H. L. Palmer, of Milwaukee, and Mr. Weil, of Ozaukee Co .; was on Joint Committee on Claims. Mr. Davis married, in 1846, Margaret MacConnel - their children are Alice J., married Charles W. Robinson, son of Mr. Robinson, President of the First National Bank of Bloomington, Ill .; they have had three children-Fred, Maggie and Arthur. Emma married W. H. Dawes, a merchant in Crete, Neb .; they have one child -- Harry. Fanny married John R. Gamble, of the firm of Gamble Brothers, prominent lawyer at Franklin, Dakota ; have one child-Lillie. Mr. Davis' other children-Lillie and John W., Jr., who are living at home. Mr. Davis is Trustee and Treasurer of the Wisconsin Female College, and has been since its organization, and was one of the principal movers in getting up the railroad that connects Fox Lake with the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad station.
CAPT. WILLIAM J. DAWES, U. S. A .; born in Southern Ohio ; son of William Dawes, who was from Maine; his father, William M., was a revenue officer during the war of 1812; at Boston, his son William, a lad at that time, was with his father on some of his trips about Boston; their ancestors were near the scene of Paul Revere's memorable ride. William M. Dawes was born in 1799, and is now living with his son in Fox Lake; he came to Wisconsin in 1854, and was Treasurer and Fiscal Agent of the La Crosse & Milwaukee R. R. (now the Milwaukee & St. Paul); he was one of the first Directors, and the first to negotiate the bonds of that road. William J. Dawes, in the spring of 1861, entered the service as Captain of Co. D, 8th W. V. I. (the Eagle Regiment); was wounded at the battle of Corinth; he was made Brevet Major by President Lincoln, for his noble conduct in the battle; and, not recovering from his wounds, was appointed in the Vet. Reserve Corps, March 31, 1864; he was engaged in ten different engagements; was employed in reconstruction duty in Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia, and was afterward Judge of Military Commission. The following incident, as related by Capt. Dawes, is of interest: "Gens. Price and Van Dorn were driving us toward Corinth, where we under Rosecranz were making a stubborn resistance, contesting every inch of our retreat. The object of our General was to tote them under the big siege guns of Forts Robbinet and Williams. By a sudden movement of the enemy, they got fire upon our regiment, which was exceedingly destructive. Of thirty- five men whom I took in, I lost fourteen, killed and wounded. Our field officers were all wounded. Gen. Moner had his horse killed the moment I fell, and his Adjutant General, Temple Clark, was shot through the body. The same volley that did this mischief, cut the cord of "Old Abe," who sat on his perch viewing the scene, and he slowly raised himself on his broad pinions and floated off over the rebel lines till I lost sight of him. I was gathered up in a blanket, and carried from the field hardly knowing what most to deplore, our defeat, my own disaster, or the loss of our guardian ægis. Our broken regiment now fell back and passed me, as I was carried slowly along; and, as the colors of the regiment swept by, I raised my head to salute them, and there, in his proper place, sat our bird, having returned from his recon- naissance and taken his stand. What joy thrilled my heart, and it was a sure omen of the terrible slaughter made among the rebels next day, completely destroying their army. Our eagle usually accom- panied us on the bloody field, and I heard prisoners say they would give more to capture the eagle of the 8th Wisconsin than a' whole brigade of men." Mr. Dawes, toward the close of the war, was made Second Lieutenant 43d U. S. V. I., then promoted to First Lieutenant, and is now Captain, U. S. A., retired. Capt. Dawes married, in 1827, daughter of Capt. Elizur Alexander, of New Hampshire ; have had three children-Frances A. (married James Davis, who is now Chairman of Republican State Committee of Nebraska, and is one of the leading Republican politicians of that State; they are living in Crete); James, J., died in 1864, when 13 years old; William A. is living at home. Capt. Dawes has been President of Board of Trustees of the Wisconsin Female College of Fox Lake, and was formerly Colonel on Gov. Randall's staff. He has, probably, the finest law library in the State.
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